Back in October I'd seen this cat hanging around outside of my apartment. It wasn't feral, it was too friendly for that. But it was skin and bones, folks, skin and bones. Long fur all matted. After about 2 weeks of seeing this kitty running around outside, one day I was driving home and it was pouring down rain. The cat was hunkered down under one of my neighbors' cars. It came running for petting. Poor thing wasn't only starving for food but also for affection. The cat (I named him Spotty) was soaking wet.

Decision made: I went to the convenience store and bought 2 cans of cheap, stinky cat food. The owners' wife gave me a couple of styrofoam containers. Got home, spooned up some food. Looked out my front glass door; sure enough, Spotty was eating like there was never going to be food again. I scooped up Spotty (and the food) and tucked him away in my 2nd bathroom. (Much to my cat Persia's chagrin.) I used a
tinfoil pan like one uses to roast a chicken or a small turkey in for a "litterbox". Didn't stop the little stinker from taking a poop in my bathtub.

Anyway, I got in touch with the founder of The House of Mews, which is a rescue organization in Memphis, TN and told her about Spotty. It's a cat rescue organization completely staffed by volunteers, totally non-profit. If a cat homed there doesn't get adopted it lives its life out there. It's an old storefront in Midtown Memphis and where there were once mannequins sporting the latest 1930's fashions there are now cats all over the place! While I was checking Spotty in (for lack of a better term) a long-haired white cat wound its way around my legs and a striped tabby hopped up to look at me and Spotty.

She sent me to a vet they work with to have the cat tested for FELV and AIDS. The kitty checked out so I took him to The House of Mews.

Only 4 short weeks later, Spotty has been adopted! She sent me this photo of what he looks like now:

He looks rather serious in the photo! And a bit like Frank Zappa with the mustache I didn't know he had! But I'm sure he'll be very happy. I was told he'll be an "only" cat, which means they won't be introducing him into a multiple cat household. My cat Persia doesn't like other cats so I completely understand. I'm so happy I got him to a good place.

Back in October I'd seen this cat hanging around outside of my apartment. It wasn't feral, it was too friendly for that. But it was skin and bones, folks, skin and bones. Long fur all matted. After about 2 weeks of seeing this kitty running around outside, one day I was driving home and it was pouring down rain. The cat was hunkered down under one of my neighbors' cars. It came running for petting. Poor thing wasn't only starving for food but also for affection. The cat (I named him Spotty) was soaking wet.

I used a
tinfoil pan like one uses to roast a chicken or a small turkey in for a "litterbox". Didn't stop the little stinker from taking a poop in my bathtub.

Only 4 short weeks later, Spotty has been adopted! She sent me this photo of what he looks like now:

I'm glad Spotty found a good home. Sounds like my Ragamuffin, who showed up at my shop about 4 months ago. The poor thing couldn't even walk across the lot without collapsing, she was so starved and dehydrated. I'm a sucker for cats--can't go into a vet's office without wanting to take all the homeless home. I have to remind myself: three cats already, and not enough room for more. Anyway, Rags and I have come to an agreement; I provide the crunchies, a place by the furnace, and pats during the day. In return, she keeps the vermin at bay, and provides a great mascot for the business. The cutomers love her! They call her my secretary. Doesn't stop her from pooping in front of the tire balancer, though!

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"To be broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe." -- Nero Wolfe/Rex Stout

I love shop-cats! When my long lost love, John, and I first got together again in 2003 we were in Addison, TX and there was a veterinary office in the strip mall where we went to breakfast. There were cats all over the place, in the window, on top of the counter, manning the printer And in the window was this print by Richard Wathermax (which I've subsequently bought):

I love shop-cats! When my long lost love, John, and I first got together again in 2003 we were in Addison, TX and there was a veterinary office in the strip mall where we went to breakfast. There were cats all over the place, in the window, on top of the counter, manning the printer And in the window was this print by Richard Wathermax (which I've subsequently bought):

I saw it and just stood there laughing like crazy! I have a "fluffy" cat, you see, and I can picture her "capsizing". Fortunately she doesn't get on counter tops so she doesn't capsize too often.

Fraidy

LOL, Fraidy! That picture reminds me of one of the cats I grew up with. The stories are too numerous to tell, but he could easily have posed for that artwork. In his prime, he could make a German shepherd run screaming (7 front toes didn't hurt), but when he was old (he lived 22 years), his belly dragged. He had definitely done what the picture portrays on the floor, but I can just imagine it on the counter!

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"To be broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe." -- Nero Wolfe/Rex Stout

Being on the art circuit with John I run into a lot of artists. There's a guy we know who is known for drawing cats and birds, he does children's graphics. His name is Don Nedobeck. I have one of his prints and he gave me a mouse pad